Rotary Steerable Motor System for Deep Gas Drilling

70860 Current drilling systems (e.g., steerable systems and rotary steerable tools) have limitations when drilling deep wells, particularly in applying high torque to the drill bit. Steerable systems generate a high degree of drag from hole tortuosity, and rotary steerable tools have reduced bit torque also due to drag. Other systems (e.g., percussion) develop high vibrations which can damage the accompanying electronic systems. This project will develop a rotary steerable motor system that allows mud motors to deliver both high torque and high power to the bit by a combination of rotary drilling speed and mud motor speed, providing advanced rates of penetration. The system continuously adjusts position as the drill string is rotated, completely eliminating the old practice of ¿sliding¿ to position the hole when motor drilling. In Phase I, a conceptual design and an operating specification for a rotary steerable motor will be completed. An engineering analysis will be made of the final design based upon a detailed conceptual layout. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should have broad applications in the oil and gas well drilling industries. Out of an estimated 3400 deviated wells drilled in 2001, less than 750 were drilled using rotary steerable tools. The rotary steerable motor should be applicable to all deviated wells, particularly those that are deep and highly deviated.